The attached amendment has been drafted at the request of
Regent Morrison-Hamilton and it grows out of a discussion the Board had at the
November meeting. Current Board policy
allows a Montana high school graduate to leave the state for up to 15 months
and still retain his/her residency for tuition purposes when the student
enrolls upon his/her return to the state.
This amendment extends that grace period to 39 months. The amendment also extends the period of
time after initial registration that a student can take advantage of this
exception. This amendment does not
affect individuals who leave the state either to go to school or fulfill
military obligations. The policy
already says that such absences will not cause a person to lose their residency
status.